So the question that remains for me is, would he have passed by this burning car if the colours 'weren't right' and would you and I? It's interesting to me what we find photographic, why we find it photographic and the connotations of the subject which are either emphasised or rendered incidental through intent.

No, No. No matter what your slant, you've photographed it due to its rarity should you be out photographing these kinds of environments. For eg, say a Armenian concert photographer saw the most perfect scene of a fan in a Union Jack shirt running up to hug the lead singer of a Surinamese band....I highly doubt the photographer would pass on this opportunity......same thing here. Now would the colors/symbols mesh to create the magic image? That is what the definition of art is......